One of Mississauga’s longest running restaurants is continuing to make a name for itself with delicious cuisine and very generous portions.
Croatia Restaurant is a hidden gem located in the back of the plaza at 1989 Dundas St E, but they’ve been a staple in the community for about 40 years now – largely owing to their menu of fresh, authentic Croatian cuisine which comes in huge portions, offering some of the most bang for your buck in today’s restaurant scene.
The secret to their success over the past few decades is consistent quality at a good price. They’re still one of the only restaurants in Mississauga specializing in the cuisine of Croatia, the southeastern European country known as a cultural hub with a wide range of flavourful foods across its various regions, including meat, seafood and pasta perfectly seasoned with olive oil, herbs and spices.
The restaurant’s extensive menu features a variety of savoury meat dishes, pasta dishes, seafood, salads, group platters and much more, so whether you love Croatian food or haven’t tried it yet, there’s something for you here.
Here are seven of Croatia Restaurant’s most popular must-try dishes:
Hrvatski Pladanj (Croatian meat platter): This massive platter is absolutely perfect for meat lovers. It comes loaded with a hearty combination of cevapcici (grilled mince meat), wiener schnitzel, shish kabobs, and small cuts of meat served in a rich and creamy mushroom sauce. The platter comes with a generous side of rice, potatoes and veggies, and can be customized to serve up to four people.
Riblji Pladanj (Seafood platter): For those who prefer delicious seafood, the Riblji Pladanj platter delivers both quantity and quality. This platter brings together whole fish, shrimps and mussels, and crispy breaded calamari and breaded filet of sole, all seasoned to perfection.
Becki Odrezak (Wiener schnitzel): While wiener schnitzel isn’t originally Croatian, the restaurant’s take on this popular dish has become one of their most beloved menu items. The Becki Odrezak is a breaded and fried veal cutlet that packs a ton of flavour into a huge portion.
Pljeskavica (Croatian-style hamburger): This ultra-savoury dish features grilled ćevapčići mixed with minced onion and served with a side of crispy french fries. Hot peppers can also be added for those who love a spicy kick.
Orada: This hearty seafood dish features a whole fish grilled to perfection, with a generous helping of garlic and olives, and drizzled with a flavourful olive oil, garlic and parsley.
Hrvatska Salata (Croatian salad): This traditional Croatian salad combines mixed peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers, red onions, olives and feta cheese, all drizzled in their house dressing for a healthy dish that’s bursting with flavour.
Zagrebacki Odrezak (Cordon Bleu): Croatia Restaurant takes this beloved dish and makes it even better with a mouthwatering serving of veal, stuffed with flavourful ham and cheese, then breaded and fried.
Some of their other popular dishes include the shrimp pasta, the Cevapcici (meatballs made with ground beef, veal, lamb), and the Ultimate Pljeskavica, a huge burger made with Cevapcici, then stuffed with cheese and topped with their special in-house sauce.
Everything on the menu is cooked from scratch, made in-house and to order, from the breading of the schnitzel to their various sauces.
The restaurant’s chefs are all trained in the “old world” traditions of preparing authentic Croatian cuisine, just the way it’s been enjoyed in Croatia for centuries.
Croatia Restaurant prides itself on offering a relaxed, welcoming atmosphere and impeccable service from the friendly staff. The restaurant’s interior is intimately designed, making it a perfect spot for formal celebrations, date nights, and intimate dinners with loved ones.
Over the past 40 years, the restaurant has amassed glowing reviews from customers who praised everything from the food to the service – it’s easy to see why they’ve been a mainstay in central Mississauga for so long!
The restaurant is open from Thursday to Sunday. It tends to get busy or booked for events, so it’s recommended to call ahead to reserve your table.
The restaurant can be booked for private parties and events. Within the local community, the restaurant has been a favourite for hosting birthdays, anniversaries, bridal showers, weddings, baby showers, business/corporate meetings, holiday parties, funeral wakes and more, accommodating up to 80 people at once.
For the full menu and latest updates, visit Croatia Restaurant’s website and Facebook page.
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